a new season?

Okay, well it is still Summer, hot and everything, but we are brewing up new plans for the next season (both literally and figuratively).  This city changes so much with each season and with the exception of a couple months back in the states during the winter, we are coming up on a year of watching these seasons change. 

I love the Fall and will definitely miss things from California like Apple Hill and pumpkin scented candles and having a fireplace. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to what the next few months and year have in store for us.

I'm ready to make some soups and cuddle on the couch under a blanket.  Soon enough.  But for now, we are planning some fun and exciting new gatherings and are about to head off to Portugal to connect with other co-workers and get refreshed.  After we return, we'll be hosting our first in home cinema night.  What should we call it?  'Barcelona Film Society'? 'Barcelona Cinema Club'? 'BCN Movie Nights'?  Other ideas?  We are hoping to host monthly gatherings surrounding films and art.  Can't wait!

Bread

I've been reading a new book called Food and Faith; a Theology of Eating.  It is encouraging more thoughtful eating which in turn creates more thankful eating.

'Thoughtful eating reminds us that there is no human fellowship without a table, no table without a kitchen, no kitchen without a garden, no garden without viable ecosystems, no ecosystems without the forces productive of life, and no life without its source in God.'


The section on bread really got me thinking:

'the visible, aromatic, and tactile presence of a warm loaf invites sharing and companionship (a "companion" - from the Latin com: "with" + panis: "bread" - is "one who shares bread").  In addition to providing nourishment, bread communicates home, hospitality, and fellowship, the sharing of our life together.'

This book has also given more meaning to eating with friends, and especially hosting dinner parties:


'Eating together should be an occasion in which people learn to become more attentive and present to the world and each other.'

Hot and Sweaty Italian Night

 Friday night we had a dinner party.  

It was an Italian theme,

and it was hot and sweaty.  

It is ludicrous to turn on your oven in August in Barcelona, and we knew it, so that's what the invite said.  But the sweating was all worth it.  Jeff made a DELICIOUS lasagna.  From scratch.  The sauce cooked all day long and the smell was torturous, but in the good way.  And I contributed meatballs (mostly because I wanted to eat them). 

Ben made the salad, and it was so scrumptious!

For like the 3rd time ever since living in Barcelona, I was full.

There were 10 of us in all and it was such fun to have a big table full of friends.  We laughed and joked and talked until the wee hours of the morning.  We began with a toast to express our gratitude for food, friends, and community (and to congratulate Ben on his new job).

the crew

I already can't wait until the next one!

Thanks to Ben, Brad, and Jeff for the photos.  Sorry we stuck you guys at the 'kids table'.

Dinner Party

What better time to try out new recipes than for a big group of friends?  We recently invited our new friends over for a dinner party.  I wrote and rewrote the menu at least 5 times througout the week and only came to a final decision while standing in front of the butcher at the market.  I'm not sure what came over me, but I asked for lamb to slow cook.  I explained to the butcher (in Castellano, of course) that we were having 9+ people for dinner and he directed me on how much to purchase and he even cut it up for me.

I came up with this recipe after looking at various ways to season and cook lamb.

It was a hit!  Easy because it cooked all day and I only had to do about 20 minutes of prep work.  I also threw together a Caprese salad and greek cous cous. 

The food was great, but the company was even better!

I'm planning my next get together now...any suggestions?

We went to our friends house for dinner last night and had a wonderful time!  The food was delicious and the company was even better.  We talked about lots of things but one of the topics was Entertaining.  I love hosting a party and preparing for it.  Each home we have lived in has been very different from the last and yet, we have had a great time with friends and family and I have enjoyed finding new ways of decorating and entertaining.

I was thinking back to when we lived in an itsy bitsy studio apartment and had my cousins over for dinner.

I didn't have much to work with as far as decor so I took an old jar and some asparagus from the farmers market and pretended they were flowers.  We had a folding table and chairs that fit just perfectly in this little nook between the kitchen, 'living room' and 'bedroom' (which was all one in the same, really).

Since this was a colorful table, and I had my asparagus bunch, I got out my orange water pitcher for beverages and my measuring cup from Anthropologie to serve the manchego cheese in.  It was before we moved to Spain and we had a 'tapas' night to celebrate our upcoming move.  This was a wonderful night and so fun to get ready for!

i love entertaining!

Monday night dinner

Monday nights have changed without you here.  The cooking team has gotten smaller.  We went from 5 to 4 and now 2.  But last night we carried on the tradition, just the two of us.  On Saturday we went to the Farmers market and picked up loads of veggies including some brussel sprouts we found at the last booth.  We made grilled chicken, loads of grilled veggies and...our first solo attempt at "the brussel sprout salad"!  The veggies included onions, green, yellow and red peppers, mushrooms,zucchini and eggplant.  They were perfect.  Dad grilled the chicken, prepped and grilled the veggies and made the croutons.  I made the brussel sprout salad.  My thumbs still hurt from peeling the brussel sprouts!  That is a lot of work.  And although we ate every bit of the salad, it was not nearly as yummy as when you two make it.   And of course, Monday night prep would not be complete without an apron selection.  This week I chose the "Jan S" apron.

My fish lady

One great thing about living in Barcelona is the price of fish.  On our weekly trip to the market, as our confidence here grows, we try out new foods and new stands.  I have found my fish stand which is straight through the back doors and to the right.  The older woman who runs this stand always sends me away with a smile and walking a bit taller with her loving words 'guapa' and 'cariña'. Little does she know that just by saying this and her smile, I feel utter loyalty.  


Just this last week we mixed things up by buying perch instead of our usual salmon or white fish fillets.  I baked them in a pan with some salt, pepper, herbs de provence, veggies, garlic, and a little olive oil.  It was so moist and delcious. 

I think we may just head over there today and get some more fish and compliments.  :)